The Early Pruning Of Established Roses

With a mild February, the Roses which we already have in the garden may be fairly in growth when March opens; indeed, in mild districts they are almost certain to be moving. Naturally, the question of the annual pruning crops up. In those learned publications which I have referred to I do not think that the inquiring amateur will ever find that pruning is discouraged entirely; it is merely a question of degree. Practically all Roses are the better for pruning of some sort, and the really practical question is not, "Shall we prune? " but, "How much shall we prune? " Well, I leave even the latter for a moment, because I recognise that the point of time is also important. The beginning of March is certainly too early to do the annual pruning in any district where there is danger of a late spring frost. The harder the pruning, the more dangerous it is to prune early. Mark that the result of pruning is to stimulate the slow moving lower buds. Wise Nature has arranged that the back buds shall be later in starting than the front buds, and if the shoots, which the latter push early, are injured, there is a reserve down below. But if the grower prunes hard early he starts the back buds, which are then no longer reserves; they are the "fighting line " itself, and if they are crumpled up by a withering fire of April frost the case is desperate. I grant that Roses which are breaking strongly in March should be pruned, but I do not think that they should have the regulation "annual pruning," unless, indeed, they are sorts which would not be pruned much in any case. The early pruning of Roses that are to be cut hard should be limited to removing the growing tips. The full pruning may be done a month later.

Good Roses For Beds

For the benefit of those who are planting Roses in spring, I may give the names of a few vigorous, free-blooming varieties, which are good for beds and groups, classified according to colour. The letters after the names indicate the sections, thus: H.P., Hybrid Perpetual; H.T., Hybrid Tea; T., Tea-scented; C, China; P., Polyantha; R, Rugosa.

Light Crimson

Charlotte Klemm (C.) Corallina (T.) Ecarlate (H.T.)

Hugh Dickson (H.P.) *Richmond (H.T.)

Deep Crimson

Charles Lefebvre (H.P.) *Griiss an Teplitz (H.T.) Marquise de Salisbury (H.T.)

Princesse de Sagan (T.) Warrior (T.)

Yellow And Copper

Gustave Regis (H.T.) Joseph Hill (H.T.) Lady Roberts (T.) *Leonie Lamesch (P.)

Madame Melanie Soupert (H.T.) Madame Pernet Ducher (H.T.) *Mrs. Dudley Cross (T.) Souvenir de Pierre Notting (T.)

Marone

Abel Carriere (H.P.)

*Xavier Olibo (H.P.)

Rose

Lady Ashtown (H.T.) Lady Battersea (H.T.)

*Madame Abel Chatenay (H.T.) Madame Jules Grolez (H.T.)

Pink

Betty (H.T.) Caroline Testout (H.T) Conrad F. Meyer (R.) *Earl of Warwick (H.T.) Edu Meyer (H.T.)

Killarney (H.T.) La France (H.T.) Lady Ashtown (H.T.) Mrs. John Laing (H.P.) *Mrs. W. H. Cutbush (P.)

White And Blush

Antoine Rivoire (H.T.) *Frau Karl Druschki (H.P.) *G. Nabonnand (T.)

*Peace (T.)

*Prince de Bulgarie (H.T.) White Maman Cochet (T.)

* For a smaller number, take those marked with an asterisk. The include both early and late bloomers.